Steam flatiron



Nov. 25, 1958 F. E. FINLAYSON 2,361,363

' STEAM FLATIRON Filed Jan. 21, 1954 K M L U ed States Patent 2,861,363 STEAM FLATIRON j Frank E. Finlayson, ntario,.Calif.', assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 21, 1954, Serial No. 405, 3'76 1 Claim. (31. 38-77) v The present invention relates to steam fiatirons wherein a reservoir for holding water is built directly into and forms a part of the fiatiron'.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved steam flatiron which is simple in structure, compact, convenient to use and capable of being manufactured at low cost; and in addition a structure which lends itself to being styled in a pleasing and attractive manner.

According to .a. nowtpreierred embodiment of, the invention, the handle forlthe flatiron isfasten'ed to.,the heel or rear-end ofthefiatiron bodyby a handle post and extends forward in spaced relation to the top wall of the flatiron cover to a position adjacent the front end or nose of the flatiron, and beneath the handle and within the confines thereof there is provided a relatively long narrow water reservoir having its lower end portion positioned in a longitudinally extending slot in the flatiron cover, its upper end portion positioned in a slot in the handle, and its rear end positioned in a pocket or cavity in the handle post. The bottom wall of the reservoir is provided with a metering orifice through which water is supplied from the reservoir to the steam chamber of the flatiron, and the forward top edge of the reservoir is anchored in the front end of the handle through the intermediary-of a filling tube.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a steam flatiron embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front end view, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the soleplate and 2 the cover of a flatiron, the two parts being fastened together by suitable means such as screws 27 and together forming the body of the flatiron. Fixed to the body at its heel or rear end by suitable means such as screws 28 is a handle post 3 integral with which is a handle 4. Handle 4 extends forwardly along and in spaced generally parallel relation to the top wall of cover 2 to a point adjacent to the front or pointed end of the flatiron body.

Handle post 3 is of substantial width at its lower end,

extending well across the heel of the flatiron, as seen in Fig. 3. It tapers upwardly and curves forwardly from its base, blending evenly and gracefully into handle 4. Cover 2 extends beyond the rear end of soleplate 1 to provide an end projection 5, and handle post 3 has a I central rearwardly extending part to provide an end projection 6, the two projections 5 and 6 forming a heel rest upon which the flatiron may be upended. Handle post 3 is hollow and on its forward side has walls which define a forwardly opening cavity 7 at the central portion of post 3.

On soleplate 1 are walls which define a steam chamber 8, the open top of which is closed by a cover plate 9 fastened in place by studs 10; and in the soleplate at suitable points are orifices 11 through which steam generated in chamber 8 flows to the surface being ironed.-

2,861,363 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 ice The steam chamber and orifice arrangement illustrated is shown only by way of example and is to be taken as typical of any suitable arrangement. The specific structure of the steam chamber and orifices forms no part of my present invention which has to do more particularly with the structure and arrangement for supplying water to the steam chamber..

Positioned directly under handle 4 and between it and the flatiron body is a water reservoir 12. The reservoir is relatively long, extending contiguously fror'n'the front end' of handle 4 back to post 3; and it is preferably of narrow width so that it lies well within the side edges of the handle. Its lower or bottom portion isllocated in a narrow longitudinally extending slot'13 in cover 2'. At its forward end it rests on steam chamber cover plate 9 and is fastened to the cover plate by a nipple 14 which is in line with the forward end of steam chamber 8 and throughwhich watermay be supplied toreservoir 12 The filling tubeis in the form of an elbow, the outer end of whichfaces forwardly as shown clearly in Fig. 2,"such end being located in a recess 17 at the forward underside of handle 4. A thimble 18 may be provided in the outer end of filling tube 16 to give a finished appearance. The foregoing arrangement assists in anchoring the reservoir in position in the flatiron structure.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, handle 4 comprises top and side walls which define a downwardly facing, longitudinally extending cavity or recess 19 which extends throughout the length of the handle and which is about equal in width to the width of reservoir 12. The bottom edges of the handle side walls at the inner edges thereof extend slightly below the top wall of reservoir 12 so that the upper portion of the reservoir is received within the recess 19. The bottom edges of the handle are rounded and are located beyond the side walls of the reservoir to provide grip portions at the underside of the handle as is indicated in Fig. 3.

In the drawing, 21 indicates the heating unit of the flatiron which is cast directly into the soleplate in a known manner, 22 indicates its terminals, 23 indicates the cord set for the flatiron, and 24 indicates a thermostat, which may or may not be manually adjustable, for regulating the temperatureof the flatiron. These elements of the flatiron, structures and arrangements of which are known, are indicated only generally in the drawing and in outline as their specific constructions form no part of the present invention. It will be understood that any suitable structures and arrangements may be used. Also, it will be understood that the flatiron will be wired in a suitable manner.

Reservoir 12 may be made of a width equal to that of post projection 6. By this arrangement the exposed side walls of the reservoir may be contoured to blend in with the side walls of the post projection as indicated particularly in Fig. 1 to give the pleasing effect of a continuous outline. This effect is augmented also by having the lower end of the reservoir set down through slot 13 in cover 2. With this arrangement the cover may be made to blend in with the reservoir walls. Also the positioning of the lower end of the reservoir through a slot in the cover has the advantage that with a given clearance between the handle and the cover a height of reservoir greater than would be the case otherwise, may be used. In other words, by positioning the lower end of the reservoir down through a slot in the cover, a reservoir of small width may be utilized while still providing ample reservoir capacity for the ironing requirements.

The invention is well adapted for use in so termed ftravel irons which are required to be small, compact and light in weight. Utilizing the invention, a travel iron may be made of minimum height, for example a height of the order .of only 2%,, :and still provide a reservoir of suitable capacity which isiout of the way so as not to interfere with the handrwhen the flatiron is being used and which takes up :a minimum of space when the fiatiron isto :be .packedifor carrying.

Also the invention has the advantage that a fiatiron embodying it is very simple in structure and capable of being manufactured at 'lowcost.

.The-way in which the flatiron is .used will be obvious. When'nsed as a dry'flatiron .no water is placed in the reservoir. For use as arsteam'flatiron, the reservoir is supplied with water throughrfilling tube 6, the fiatiron being positioned for filling rwithzthe filling tube opening facing upwardly. It maybe held in this position either manually or by tip-ending the fiatiron on the heel rest formed by projections J5 and 6. In Fig. 2, 25 indicates water in reservoir 12 and 26indicates steam which has been formedin steam chamber 8. Since the filling tube is located at the forward upper end of the reservoir :water will not leak out of it when the fiatiron is up-ended. When being .used as a steam flatiron, water from the reservoir passes through metering orifice 15 and is flashed into .steam when it drops against the bottom of the steam chamber. From .the steam .chamber the steam is distchargedthrough orifices 11 to the surface being ironed.

After the fiatiron has been used for steam ironing any water left in the reservoir can be readily poured out through the filling tube.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a flatiron, a body comprising a soleplate and a cover, said body having walls therein which define a steam chamber, a handle post fixed on the body at its rear end having a forwardly facing cavity therein, an open handle fixed on the post and extending forwardly over and in .spaced relation to the cover, said cover having a relatively narrow longitudinally extending slot directly beneath the handle, a relatively long narrow water reservoir positioned beneath the handle with its References 'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,962,940 Schaefer lane 12, 1934 2,313,382 -Kistner Mar. 9, 1943 2,506,941 Scott May 9, 1950 2,683,320 Morton July 13, 1954 

